Inflatable toy



L. H. ALLEN INFLATABLE TOY Filed Aug. 5, 192

June 12, 1928.

, INVENTOR, lea/i519: filler $7 M? 4% @vu/MM.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 12, 1928.

, 1,673,479 PATENT 7. OFFICE.

LEWIS n. ALLEN, or WEST SPRINGFIELD, uassacnusnr'rs.

INFLATABLE TOY.

Application filed August 5, 1926. Serial No. 127,219.

This invention relates to improvements in to s.

in object of the invention is to provide a toy that is designed to float on the water and havin pneumatic means for automatically prope ling the toy along the surface of the water.

Broadly, it comprises a member of any suitable design or shape, as shown in the drawings a duck is illustrated, which comprises a thin light-weight outer shell member which forms the main or outer part of the toy. This shell is preferably composed of celluloid or it may consist of thin rubber suitably vulcanized so that it will retain its permanent shape. Located within the shell member is a thin elastic rubber member similar to the small rubber balloons. This member is designed to be inflated so that the expansive force of the compressed air therein will cause the inflatable member to completely fill the shell part of the toy. Means are provided for automatically closing the inlet inflating tube and other means for permitting the compressed air to escape through a small tube and react against the water on which the toy floats. The reaction of the escaping compressed air serves to propel the toy along the surface of the water in any suitable direction, as it is a well known fact in physics that the reaction of moving air or an expansible gaseous medium will serve to propel a movable object forward, similar to the Barker reaction wheel or the steam Engaging the curved blades of a steam tur- Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 showing the outer shell member construction, partially in section,

the inlet tube and the discharge tube "for the compressed air, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the inflatable rubber member, partially deflated, and in dotted lines the same fully inflated.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the outer shell of thin material,

preferably of celluloid or vulcanized rubber.

This shell may be made in one or two parts and suitably secured together in any suitable way. Located within the shell member is an elastic inflatable member formed of thin rubber and designated at 2. It is attached to the shell 1 at the point 3 in any suitable way,

as by employing rubber or celluloid cement, or t may be secured to the inflating tube 4 whlch s attached to the shell. Located at thlspolnt of the shell is the inflating tube 4 having the automatically closing valve 5 at its lnner end. This valve is normall closed by means of a spring hinge. 6 designates the escape tube for the compressed air. It is made very'small in diameter and secured to the mfiatable member 2 at an angle to the horizontal plane as shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, it IS lllustrated as extending through a foot or rudder member of the toy. This rudder member at its outer end is somewhat flattened or broadened as indicated at 7, and formed wlth the spreading grooves 8 for causing the escaping air, under pressure, to spread out similar to a fan. The reaction of the expanded stream of air against the solid body of water causes the toy to be propelled or driven forward in the direction of the arrow 9. As soon as the rubber member 2 becomes wholly, or partially deflated the movement of the toy will cease, requiring the rubber member who again inflated.

It 1s of course possible to change the direct1on of movement of the toy on the water by changing the angle or direction of the air escaping tube 6 and the position of the rudder member.

It is, of course, within the province of the present invention to adapt the inflatable member to different shaped toys and the de vice is not therefore understood as being limited as applied to the outline of a duck, as shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy designed to float on the surface of the water, comprising a shell member formed of thin rigid material, an inflatable member located in the said rigid material and connected thereto, the inflatable member serving to expand and fill the shell member when airunder pressure is forced into the same and to normally contract when "air under pressure escapes therefrom, means for inflating the same and means for permitting the air to escape from the latter member, and comprising a tube of small diameter projecting through said shell member and arranged at an angle to the horizontal plane, rudder means formed with corrugations which spread outward in a fan like manner from the point of exit of the compressed air from the tube, against which corrugations the escaping compressed air strlkes for causing the escaping air to spread outward in a fan-like manner and control the direction of motion of the toy, whereby the toy is propelled by the reaction of escaping air against the water.

2. A toy designed to float on the water comprising an outer rigid shell member composed of light thin rigid material, an inflatable member permanently located within the said outer shell member, a tube'attached to the inflatable member for inflating the interiorly located inflatable member, an inflating inlet valve attached to the inflatable member, means for automatically closing the inlet tube, a tube attached to the inflatable member for permitting the compressed air to escape and located at and extending through the lower part of the said outer member and arranged at an angle to the horizontal plane, a corrugated rudder member to which the compressed air escape tube is attached, the corrugations extending outward in a fan like manner from the point of exit of the compressed air of the tube for permitting the compressed air to engage the corrugations, whereby the reaction of the escaping compressed air against the fan shaped corrugations of the rudder member will cause the air to escape in a fan like manner and the toy to be propelled along the surface of the water.

{3. In a toy designed for floating and comprising a rigid outer shell member, a member of thin expansible material permanently located in the said shell member, means for inflating the inner member, tube means communicating with the interior of the said member within the said outer shell member and extendin through the latter, a member having fan s aped corrugations extending from the point of exit of the tube, for permitting the compressed air to esca e from the expansible member against sai corrugated member in a fan like manner and propel the toy along the water.

I LEWIS H. ALLEN. 

